Calcium oxalate

I was looking at the outer skin of the onion also called tunic. I saw white rectangular shapes on it. I found out its called calcium oxalate crystals, a colorless crystalline salt. I found many on the tunic of the onion.😀

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This is absolutely fantastic. I had never realized that we have oxalate crystals embedded right next to the plant cells. It’s a fascinating juxtaposition of organic and in-organic matter. I wonder how to cells enclosing some of the crystals deal with such a large crystal.

The images are absolutely fantastic – what a beautiful post.

Welcome to the Foldscope community? Next – you should also look at Ginger 🙂 Can’t wait to read your next post.

Also, if you can post where you bought the “tunic” – I would love to see that.

I will surly do that though I don’t like ginger I will experiment on it. 😀 I figured out Calcium oxalate is highly toxic and sometimes found in urine. It’s one of the causes for kidney stones. I am guessing that’s why we don’t eat the “tunic” (outer layer) of the onion

Dear @Vaishnavi.. Crystals have some very interesting geometry and you can look them up in any rocks and minerals book. Can we say what kind of geometry these calcium oxalate crystals might have by looking at them?